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Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 1:17 am
by Trollzy1234
Hi everyone,
Glad to join the community. I just recently bought a colony of Camponotus spp (8-10 workers + 1 queen) a week ago. I've attached my setup in the pictures below. It's basically a sandwich container with a cut out netting overtop to allow for airflow and my deterrent is baby powder and isopropyl alcohol placed on the inside edges. Inside is a bunch of dirt and a bottle cap where honey can be placed for consumption. The test tube setup and water trapped with cotton is also inside the sandwich container but the ants can freely move out of the test tube if needed. The test tube is wrapped with aluminum and a paper cover to keep it as dark as possible.
I was hoping if it was possible to ID these ants because I'm curious as to what species it could be. Is it also ok if I keep this setup? If not, what can I do to make it better? Also, the ants are on a cabinet in my room at the moment and I'm not sure if it's a suitable spot for them due to how often I come in and out, alternating between having lights on and off. The test tube they're in will stay dark thanks to the cover but the rest of the container will be exposed to light. Can I still keep it in my room or should I move the set somewhere else where the ants aren't exposed to light? I've noticed that the ants have taken the dirt and placed it at the opening of the test tube and have barricaded themselves in. Is this normal? Finally, I'm really unsure about what to do for hibernation. Can anyone give me a debrief on what needs to happen so that my ants can hibernate?
Sorry about droning on with the questions and thanks in advance!
https://i.imgur.com/Tg92JJM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A2y1Jwr.jpg
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 8:35 am
by AntsDakota
Trollzy1234 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 13, 2018 1:17 am
Hi everyone,
Glad to join the community. I just recently bought a colony of Camponotus spp (8-10 workers + 1 queen) a week ago. I've attached my setup in the pictures below. It's basically a sandwich container with a cut out netting overtop to allow for airflow and my deterrent is baby powder and isopropyl alcohol placed on the inside edges. Inside is a bunch of dirt and a bottle cap where honey can be placed for consumption. The test tube setup and water trapped with cotton is also inside the sandwich container but the ants can freely move out of the test tube if needed. The test tube is wrapped with aluminum and a paper cover to keep it as dark as possible.
I was hoping if it was possible to ID these ants because I'm curious as to what species it could be. Is it also ok if I keep this setup? If not, what can I do to make it better? Also, the ants are on a cabinet in my room at the moment and I'm not sure if it's a suitable spot for them due to how often I come in and out, alternating between having lights on and off. The test tube they're in will stay dark thanks to the cover but the rest of the container will be exposed to light. Can I still keep it in my room or should I move the set somewhere else where the ants aren't exposed to light? I've noticed that the ants have taken the dirt and placed it at the opening of the test tube and have barricaded themselves in. Is this normal? Finally, I'm really unsure about what to do for hibernation. Can anyone give me a debrief on what needs to happen so that my ants can hibernate?
Sorry about droning on with the questions and thanks in advance!
https://i.imgur.com/Tg92JJM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A2y1Jwr.jpg
Put the ants in the fridge, or your garage. Give them some food to live off of and check on them once a month.
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:21 am
by JoeHostile1
The species is Camponotus novaeboracensis.
Using tinfoil to cover test tubes isn’t a great idea because the tinfoil insulates the testube and because of the water the testube will be colder than if you left it uncovered or covered it with something else like cloth or paper.
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:24 am
by Trollzy1234
Thanks for the advice and for the ID!
Putting them in the fridge would be a huge NOPE thanks to my parents and my house is kind of infested with spiders especially in the garage... I'm a little scared that my ants might get attacked even though the container is sealed and the meshing on the net is too small for spiders to get in but thats probably just me worrying too much. Also, do these ants need any light during hibernation? The garage door is being opened everyday and theres this big noise it always makes when it opens/closes. Wondering if this would disturb the ants along with any exhaust from the car that we park inside the garage? I could place the container in the garage if these issues won't be a problem but would any other unheated area be suitable as well?
Also, thanks for the suggestion on removing the aluminum foil. I'll be getting rid of it and using the paper cover instead.
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:37 pm
by AntsDakota
Spiders tend to stay clear of ants because ants can be very aggressive. If you have an enclosed setup, the chances of a spider getting inside are pretty minimal. Except very small spiders, but they are more likely to be ant food than anything else.
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:10 pm
by Trollzy1234
AntsDakota wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:37 pm
Spiders tend to stay clear of ants because ants can be very aggressive. If you have an enclosed setup, the chances of a spider getting inside are pretty minimal. Except very small spiders, but they are more likely to be ant food than anything else.
Thanks for clearing that up. As I mentioned before, my garage is pretty loud when it's being opened/closed and we always bring the car inside... Would this disturb the ants?
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:56 pm
by AntsDakota
Trollzy1234 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:10 pm
AntsDakota wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:37 pm
Spiders tend to stay clear of ants because ants can be very aggressive. If you have an enclosed setup, the chances of a spider getting inside are pretty minimal. Except very small spiders, but they are more likely to be ant food than anything else.
Thanks for clearing that up. As I mentioned before, my garage is pretty loud when it's being opened/closed and we always bring the car inside... Would this disturb the ants?
Ants can't hear. If the garage absolutely shakes the ground when it opens, that could be a problem. Yet when ants are in deep freeze, they don't feel a thing.
Noob Ant Keeper Camponotus spp
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 4:13 pm
by Kellystall
Im going to brazil tomorrow and I was wondering if the were any antkepers there because I was hoping if allowed I could bring some ant queens back?
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:48 pm
by antnest8
It's not really Brazil's laws you have to worry about its the U.S's laws. The U.S does not allow importing ant's like that without specific licences.
Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:02 am
by JoeHostile1
antnest8 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:48 pm
It's not really Brazil's laws you have to worry about its the U.S's laws. The U.S does not allow importing ant's like that without specific licences.
That is of course if he lives in America otherwise the U.S laws are irrelevant.